DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

20 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

No sale? Plans for social and mid-priced rental homes take priority in Amsterdam

July 5, 2018

Amsterdam city council will give clear priority to housebuilders submitting plans for social and middle income rental housing in the next seven years, it said in a response to a question from VVD councillor Naoum Néhmé.

The city aims to build 7,500 houses a year until 2025, and has already given planning permission to two-thirds of the total, including around 12,500 houses for sale and 5,900 for free market rental.

‘To keep the housing market accessible for all groups of Amsterdammers, the government believes that the space left available [for building] up to 2025 must mostly be filled with social and mid-priced rental homes,’ the council said in its written response.

Jasper Karman, spokesman for housing deputy mayor Lauren Ivens, said the coalition isn’t imposing a complete ban, because allowing some homes for sale might be necessary to break even. But the clear priority is to greenlight affordable homes.

‘If you leave it to the market, you know what will happen,’ he told DutchNews.nl. ‘It will only be expensive homes for sale. But this government is convinced that there should be places for teachers and students, for example, and if we don’t do anything that won’t happen.’

In the past five years, Amsterdam housing prices have risen by more than 65%, according to property company Calcasa and last year only 7% of new rental builds were affordable for those on an average income.

Not everyone agrees with the left-leaning coalition’s plans. A recent CBRE property advisory group report says its ambition to boost affordable housing will lead to more shortages and price rises, by putting off developers.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Housing
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Europe at risk of cyberattacks because of “digital dependency”
The big election issues: climate change and the environment
Ajax's home defeat to AZ fuels speculation over Heitinga future
The Dutch are frustrated by lack of political progress
Just dance! Amsterdam Dance Event invites young and old to party
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now